10 Style Swaps To Make For Spring: No Purchases Needed
How to balance classic winter style with undone summer vibes for the season ahead.
At the centre of my style core are two opposing forces. On the one hand, there’s a very classic, clean, extremely neutral facet of fashion that I will always adore. It’s ‘off-duty’ model, meets the LBD. I was six when ‘Wannabe’ was released and had a brown bob, so my pull to an all-black outfit was inevitable…
But on the other side, there’s a more boho vibe I'm drawn to. It’s my millennial calling card. Wide-leg, looser fit trousers, pendants and beads, oversized knits and tees - everything just a little undone. It’s Summer Roberts on The O.C, Nicole Richie in the 2000’s, L.C on Laguna Beach. It’s chill, it’s relaxed, it’s a product of my formative teenage years.
I settled on my three style words, à la Allison Bornstein, around four years ago now, and they’ve remained unchanged: classic, undone, and polished. Classic and undone being the two opposite ends of my personal style spectrum, and then polished as the connecting factor for how I often marry them together.
Ultimately, many stylists agree that having opposing influences is the secret sauce for adding tension to an outfit. It’s a helpful tool, not a hindrance. And I find myself naturally gravitating to either end at different points of the year. In the winter, I lean more into the classic side of my style - thick wool coats, pointed leather boots, straight-leg jeans and crewneck knits. Whereas in the summer, it feels more natural to add flow into my outfits with baggier linen trousers, unbuttoned shirts and beachier jewellery choices.
So where does spring fit into all of that? That’s what I’ve been grappling with over the past few weeks. I’m mentally ready to slip back into that chilled summer-mode of my wardrobe, but practically it’s going to be a high of 12℃ again at the weekend. I needed some ideas for blending the classic with the undone for this in-between bit. I’ve done some digging around, and I think I’ve worked it out 10 ways to do exactly that…
Perhaps the easiest trick of all is to dust off your beaded necklaces from summer. It’s low lift because the base of your outfit remains exactly the same, so no matter the weather, it’s a styling tweak you can always make work. A style that dips just below where a crewneck would hit is the perfect length - it goes with everything (I sometimes find pendants need a little more thought). Pearls, larger or petite, will feel more polished, or an earthy-toned beaded chain will add texture and colour to a classic look.
To me, a classic look always feels more slim-line in proportion. A closer-fit crewneck knit with a straight-leg pair of jeans, both pieces sitting pretty flush with the body. Whereas undone reads oversized - the clothes barely touch. This isn’t always the most practical in those shoulder months, where the breeze means you still require a layer that sits closer and provides warmth. But you can always switch it up by enlarging the proportions on either the top or the bottom. I love the idea of this ivory rollneck on top* with your favourite pair of jeans, or this slouchy knitted tee* (I couldn’t help myself, I’ve just bought it). If you want to go looser with your trousers, try these for a Gala Pant dupe*, or these for something silky* (warning: they come up small, so size up!).
It’s that time of the year when I get to hang up my wool coats for good. And I can’t lie, I’m kinda pleased about that. I’m ready for something that’s both physically and visually lighter, but nine times out of ten, I still need a jacket. To be honest, a trench ticks all the boxes. I have the Rue Sophie Balham Trench* and have zero complaints (although you could size down here, I’m wearing a medium - my usual size - and it’s very oversized). It’s got that flow that I’m craving, but it’s thick enough to do the job. You don’t need to overthink it. Sometimes the simplest choice is the right one.
Just like switching your jewellery, switching your bag is the easiest way to tune your look into reading more ‘spring’. I’ve been doing it for the past two months, since I found this The Row bag secondhand and have worn it with everything. Some kind of straw bag/raffia tote is the most underestimated wardrobe hero in my opinion. In fact, I like them even more in winter than I do in summer. In winter, you can’t always do Allison’s whole ‘wrong shoe’ thing as the weather gets in the way, so instead, I often do a ‘wrong bag’ to bring back in that tension. Big love to Nina in our group chat, who found THE DUPE of this bag*. It literally looks exactly the same and costs a mere fraction of the original's price. I know dupes are a murky business, but I can get behind this one.
Layering can feel summer-coded and inherently beachy. If your beach is anything like my beach - British beaches can be both beautiful and brutal, often within the same 10 minutes - then layering is essential. Here are some ideas:
It’s an oldie but a goodie, a crisp white tee under a knitted V-neck still hits. You could mix it up by trying a pale grey or pastel-toned tee instead.
A grey jumper around the waist can break up an outfit that’s feeling flat - I personally like using my & Daughter Knit* for that purpose as it’s not too thick. I also LOVE the look of a cream sweater worn around the waist to contrast with an all-black outfit.
Try layering pieces that feel contrasted stylistically. Like a cotton jersey sweatshirt under a blazer, a car coat over your workout fit or a crisp trench worn with your favourite jogging bottoms.
I needed this reminder from Kelly last week to sometimes swap your T-shirts for a shirt, because as Kelly put it:
Part of the magic of a button down is that it carries a certain heritage of intention. The structure of the collar and the cuffs are elements that, historically, have been tied to more formal environments. So when you pair a button down with something like worn-in denim, elastic-waist pants, or even athletic shorts, the shirt raises the bar of the look but still fits in nearly any casual context.
I’d argue it’s also a solid swap to make for spring. If you opt for an oversized style, there’s built-in chill. You can leave buttons undone, sleeves rolled, tuck in one side or both, tie it up or leave it open layered over a vest - you get that lived-in aspect that you just can’t with a classic tee.
Jeans + jumper + flip-flops week is one of my favourite fleeting style moments each year. So momentary! But so longed for! Sadly, it is extremely short, so until that week hits, proper shoes are on the menu. In lieu of a flip-flop, I find a shoe that shows a large proportion of the top of your foot can work in a similar way. Just breaking up the lines, showing some skin and giving just a hint of a summer vibe until the real thing comes around.
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“so momentary but so longed for” is such a beautiful way to capture moments in our style journey
Never thought I’d be a bead gal but so into it! This post has me so ready for more spring weather, NY has required full winter gear this past week.